Bar Tape on a Flatbar?
#1
Bar Tape on a Flatbar?
Has anyone here used cork tape or another kind of bar tape on their flatbar bikes? I hate my rubber grips and want to replace them with something a little more comforting and possibly something that is sweat absorbent.
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Brooklyn, NY
Bikes: '01 Trek Clyde 4-speed, Surly Cross-check ss/fg
I haven't. As a new user of drop bars (and bar tape), I was surprised by how much cusioning it actually provides (I'm using cinelli cork tape).
That said, I would probably just look for some regular grips you like better because the edges of bar tape can get pulled up by lateral hand movement.
If you do decide to try the bar tape, you might ask at your LBS if they have some scraps left over from a wrap job that you could have.
That said, I would probably just look for some regular grips you like better because the edges of bar tape can get pulled up by lateral hand movement.
If you do decide to try the bar tape, you might ask at your LBS if they have some scraps left over from a wrap job that you could have.
#3
Tinkerer since 1980
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: London
Bikes: Coppi racer, Old school BMX, some random a fixed wheel convertion
Looks like sheldon has it on the stoker bars of this bike https://www.sheldonbrown.org/picchio/
#4
Striving for Fredness
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: West Michigan
Bikes: Old Giant Rincon
I put bar tape on my wrap around bars and love it. I can't believe the difference it makes in cushioning. I went to the wrap around bars because I was having problems with hand pain and numbness and wanted more hand positions, but now that I am using the bar tape I find I really don't need the extra positions because of the cushioning the tape provides although they are nice to have. Maybe some of the foam style MTB grips might offer similar cushioning?
#5
My first commute bike was a cruiser with those foam grips. They are incredibly comfortable but they wear out quick and can get stanky if you sweat on them. Switching from the foam to rubbery grips took a while to get used to.
#9
George Krpan
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 1
From: Westlake Village, California
Check out Ergon grips, they rule.
https://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=de...=30&SKU=HT1707
https://aebike.com/page.cfm?action=de...=30&SKU=HT1707
#10
Full Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 318
Likes: 46
From: Stratford, New Zealand
Bikes: 1990 Paul Dye Hand Built 7 Speed, 1965 Raleigh Sport, Folding 26" Tourer
I put some on my inboard mounted bar ends, almost a full drop bars worth - over some old grips. The end result is fairly thick, tapering in from the top to the bottom. I shaped it a little to suit my hand position. Lovely!
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Here's how you should wrap a flat bar bike- on both sides, your starting point is going to be closest to the stem. Keep it in place on both ends with a 1 inch strip of electrical tape.
I use Cinelli cork ribbon. I've found that in the rain it is 100 times superior to rubber grips (which are very slippery).
Also for a second hand position, install some bar ends.
Forgot to mention, you only need to wrap them once. Double wrapping is not necesarry. If you need extra padding consider using electrical tape underneath the Cork tape.
I use Cinelli cork ribbon. I've found that in the rain it is 100 times superior to rubber grips (which are very slippery).
Also for a second hand position, install some bar ends.
Forgot to mention, you only need to wrap them once. Double wrapping is not necesarry. If you need extra padding consider using electrical tape underneath the Cork tape.
#12
My brother has tape on his riser bars. Just a little longer than normal grips, and it's shellacked and twined and looks great. You could use all of the leftover tape to wrap your right chainstay.
#13
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Warminster, PA (N of Philly)
Bikes: Trek FX 7.3
Just did this morning.
I did a search and came upon this thread. My partner wanted "baby blue bar tape" to make her bike pretty, so...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rorowe/...in/photostream
We'll see how she likes it. And how long it lasts.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rorowe/...in/photostream
We'll see how she likes it. And how long it lasts.
#17
Faster but still slow
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,978
Likes: 2
From: Jersey
Bikes: Trek 830 circa 1993 and a Fuji WSD Finest 1.0 2006
I have those exact cork grips on my Trek that I built up into a city bike. They are awesomely comfortable. Because of the curves and the diameter, they are actually more comfortable than the bar tape on my road bike. Cork grips are nothing at all like rubber grips.
#18
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
I double wrap my Trekking Bars with 'cork' tape,, the older stuff as base layer.
got some Ergon grips for my Straight bars, they integrate a comfort grip
and bar end in a 1 bolt adjustable unit. . GC3
the Grip Shift length seems a bit too cozy narrow, think I'll add 3/4"
of old other grips.. .. on the inside end ..
they added a Biocork grip this season , I got the black rubber version..
got some Ergon grips for my Straight bars, they integrate a comfort grip
and bar end in a 1 bolt adjustable unit. . GC3
the Grip Shift length seems a bit too cozy narrow, think I'll add 3/4"
of old other grips.. .. on the inside end ..
they added a Biocork grip this season , I got the black rubber version..
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-19-11 at 12:21 PM.








